Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to evaluate best management practices consistent with the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) that will reduce or mitigate detrimental effects of sedimentation and runoff on water quality and provide data that can be applied to TMDL standards.

Approach:
Runoff plots are established at the Delta Branch Experiment Station to quantify the contribution of various BMPs toward reducing sedimentation and runoff in continuous cotton. These plots are approximately 170 m in length and are instrumented with flow meters and samplers to measure runoff volume, sediment load, and chemical loss under natural rainfall conditions. Composite runoff samples are taken at each runoff event. BMPs include no-tillage, rye cover crop, grass hedges, and grass filter strips. Crop yield and management inputs are quantified to obtain an economic analysis of the production system.